C Palace

Blackpool

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway complained of the reaction of the Blackpool bench after Nouha Dicko's last-minute strike ensured the Seasiders marked the reunion with their former boss with a 2-2 draw.

Holloway left Blackpool just five weeks ago to take charge at promotion-chasing Palace and his new side appeared on course to claim three points when Glenn Murray and Owen Garvan overturned Nathan Delfouneso's first-half opener.

But Dicko stepped off the bench to level, prompting exuberant celebrations in the visitors' dug-out that Holloway believes went too far in the case of one of Michael Appleton's backroom staff.

The Palace manager said: "They were delighted at the end but I didn't like the reaction of one of the men on their bench.

"One of the new fellas looked straight at me when they equalised.

"It's a war out there and I carried my shield very proud.

"He didn't stare me out - no one can stare me out. I know Michael wouldn't have done something like that, he's got more about him than that. But I didn't look round at them when we scored, did I?

"It was not easy to play down the emotion, I was at Blackpool a long time and had great times.

"But you have to move on. I heard them singing 'What's the score?' to me when they were winning - but that wasn't happening when we were 2-1 up!"

Blackpool manager Appleton - now unbeaten in six games since succeeding Holloway - dismissed his opposite number's concern.

He said: "I was probably celebrating when the goal went in. But you're talking about looking at people - what are we supposed to do, keep our heads down?

"I think maybe Ian was being a little bit tongue-in-cheek."

Delfouneso headed Blackpool ahead in the 17th minute from Tom Ince's cross and the visitors reached the half-time interval on top.

But Palace responded strongly after the break, levelling in the 53rd minute when Garvan headed home from Yannick Bolasie's cross before Murray headed his 18th league goal of the season in the 65th minute.

The home side appeared on course for victory until Wes Thomas' low cross was turned home by Dicko and Appleton believes his side deserved a draw.

He added: "I'm sure some players get themselves up for different games, former managers or clubs, and I thought we dealt with them reasonably well.

"I would have been desperately disappointed not to take anything out of the game after having played so well in the first half.

"I knew they would improve in the second half and it was difficult for 10 or 15 minutes in the second half.

"But just before we got an equaliser, you could see a bit of momentum building. And once we got that, I thought we could have gone on and got the winner."